Period upgrade or mod parts

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Oct 14, 2019
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Just curious to know what were the most popular Upgrade or Mod parts Back in the day.. I have seem some John tickle parts, Borrani Wheels, Is there anything one should look out for when searching for a bike or when doing up a triton Or were most of the item just taken off another bike and retrofitted..
 
The most popular “upgrades” were cheap shit that didn’t involve much dismantling to fit.

Fibreglass seats and megaphone-shaped exhausts spring to mind.
 
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Well, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and be prepared to be shot down in flames, but...

IMHO at least 90% of the period parts were shite. Fibre glass tanks had plaster of Paris in them, the wrong alloy was used for stuff, alloy casting were like Swiss cheese, chrome was a joke, things didn’t fit so had to be ‘adjusted’ by the lads in their sheds with their delicate collection of hammers and stilsons (courtesy of the coal board), etc.

So, don’t put any effort into this, just look for a good core with the engine, gearbox, frame and forks that you desire and be prepared to spend lavishly on the rest!
 
In the old days they use what they had, most were young and money was tight, now a days people seem to have more money and will buy the best, but of course things cost so much more these days, when I first built my Commando/Featherbed I was in my early 20s in between jobs and I had to use what I had from what could be used on the Featherbed, but did buy a new set of Akront rims at the time but they were only $90 each and $80 to be laced up to my hubs, to this day I still run these rims and they still look as good as the day I got them after 38 years and was a every day ride for most of its life.

Ashley
 
Morgy

My Tritons we're early ones, ie nowhere near the amount of bling! the have now days
My slimline with Thunderbird 6t alternator engine, Triumph 4 speed box ,magneto. A big old 5 gallon alloy petrol tank.
The bling Tickle headlamp brackets! One stamping for both sides so you could only have Tickle facing out on one side! Tickle clipons. Amal alloy levers, quick action Docherty throttle. Chrome throttle cable splitter, alloy tank strap with holes & ludicrous chrome buckle strap with rusty split pins. Amal chopped monoblocs with trumpets, Sweptback down pipes with Goldie silencers, huge shit alloy exhaust fins, alloy mudguards. Dunstall rearsets. Alloy oil tank, short roadholders, twin leading shoe brake. Dunlop alloy rims.
As good as most on the road & pretty much derigour at the time.
That all changed with 9 stud heads. Finned rocker boxes,turned rocker box caps but then you needed all the bling.

My engine was quick . When I stripped it down it had some bling haha! Big port head & big valves by Dudley Ward. Sumerton cams, lightened timing wheels. Powermax pistons. I ran it on 4 star & it could take some kicking. Compression was in the mid elevens. It used to leap from the lights. Lol, low weight & a hand whos span could not always feather the shit Triumph clutch. Christ it was heavy with racing springs. Stall or accelerate into the car in front. The noise was amazing & 56 in first! I was more than a bit in awe, more slightly afraid. In the wet I was just scared & prayed for a smooth run. I used to get it out of first as soon as possible & let it trundle in third & fourth. I have fond memories of that bike.
Of course no one would build a bike now without a 9 stud & bling.
I did change one thing quickly & that was the Triangular race rubber it came on !! It was a nightmare round town on them.
All the best Chris
 
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You absolutely must have an extended float chamber on your monobloc
And a wooden clothes peg if you have plunger type petrol taps
 
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